Howard Growing Up Quickly

Spread before him on a table Saturday at RDV Sportsplex were several magazines. One, called Relevant, had a cover story titled, "Can Dwight Howard Save the NBA?"

Asked if that was a little too much pressure, Howard, in the flesh, shook his head.

"No," said Howard, who just finished signing autographs after practice for the children of the Orlando Magic's sponsors. "I'm trying to be a great player."

He has a ways to go but is gaining fast. If Howard becomes a legend, March 11, 2005, might well be remembered as a defining moment in his development with the Magic.

Friday night at TD Waterhouse Centre, Howard, 19, stared down his idol, Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett. Howard scored 19 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, looking nothing like the skittish rookie who had just six points and nine rebounds in his first meeting against KG on Jan 12.

Howard came away with everything but the victory in the rematch.

"The first time, I think Dwight was mesmerized, coming face-to-face with his idol," Magic Coach Johnny Davis said. "I thought Dwight really grew up [Friday]."

Howard makes his 62nd start of the season tonight against the New Jersey Nets, and the Magic need him to keep playing beyond his years.

Save the NBA, Dwight? How about saving the Magic?

Losers of three consecutive games, Orlando (31-30) is trying to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race. And it looks as if the 6-11 Howard might be counted on to do even more at power forward if starting center Kelvin Cato's left shoulder doesn't cooperate.

Cato, who left the game against the T'wolves in the third quarter, underwent a magnetic resonance imaging Saturday afternoon.

The results were not available, but trainer Teddy Arzonico said Cato's shoulder was "stable." It's an indication the injury was not as severe as the dislocation that caused Cato to miss 10 games earlier this season.

Veteran Tony Battie will start at center if Cato cannot play. Small forward Grant Hill is expected to return after missing three games with a bruised left lower shin.

Without Cato, Howard will need to stay out of foul trouble, which has been a problem occasionally.

Howard is making a late-season push for rookie of the year, trying to overtake Charlotte Bobcats forward Emeka Okafor and beat Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon.

He has averaged 15 points and 14.2 rebounds the past six games -- and that included a three-point, four-rebound off-night against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Tuesday.

Howard (10.9 points and 10 rebounds per game) is one of nine NBA players averaging a double-double. Some of those nine are named Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and Garnett.

Garnett won the game against the Magic with a three-point play late in the fourth quarter. Howard won some respect.

It will be remembered in Howard's career scrapbook as "The Shove." Frustrated with Howard's freakish leaping ability that altered his shot, Garnett pushed Howard, who stumbled away. KG was whistled for a technical.

Howard is 262 pounds, 42 pounds heavier than the 7-1 Garnett, and he didn't stumble far. In fact, he glared back and approached KG -- to the delight of Davis.

"We're competitors, and that's going to happen. He knows I like him as a player and a person," he said. "He was trying to intimidate me and see where my head was at, trying to get me flustered. My first thought was not to back down from any challenge. I wanted to get his respect."

Howard has it, according to Garnett.

"He's 10 times bigger than when I was 18. I was a bag of bones with a big heart. He's a freak of nature," Garnett said. "The sky's the limit for that kid. . . . It's almost scary. If he applies himself and really works on his game during the offseason, he can be a very special player in the league."

Shove aside, Garnett said he has a soft spot for young players such as Howard. Garnett led today's preps-to-pros charge, coming out of high school in 1995.

"I always cling to the high school kids a little more because just the situation and the transition is a little difficult, and I relate to that a little more," Garnett said. "But I've always opened my doors and had my phone number open for the young guys to talk to me."